SussexHarry

Definitely. Considering the risks involved in tree work I wouldn’t dream of showing up for anything less than minimum wage and that would be with zero tickets and zero experience. I think anyone agreeing to step foot on a site for £80 a day is selling themselves incredibly short - then again if they’re agreeing to that wage then perhaps the problems go deeper than simply selling one’s self short. I think arboriculture wages are far behind the other trades. Considering it takes thousands of pounds in equipment and training to become qualified and the risks of injury involved in the work, you’d think employees would be paid fairly. Unfortunately there’s an industry-norm of underpaying people and keeping them as self employed contractors (i.e: disguised employees). One of the firms I trialed with offered me full-time work as a “contractor” 5 days a week (but still wanted me to show up at specific times, stay until he said I could go, and call him “boss”). This unfortunately appears to be fairly standard for the industry, but is through all intents and purposes a predatory employment tactic that provides the company with full time staff, but exempts them from paying NI, sick pay, paid leave, and protects them from any liabilities should they get injured at work. I was insulted to be offered this. But it seems quite common! Almost makes me think there’s a gap in the market in the arb industry for a company that treats employees fairly and legally.

I’m still in the process of switching careers, however when I went about getting work experience with various companies (with no tickets) at the start of the year I was on £100 a day. When I got my chainsaw, cross cut and small fell tickets, I was offered a PAYE job with a local firm at £110 a day. Keep in mind at this point I had only worked about 10 days total in the industry all during my time off from the day job… I had my own PPE but no equipment. Work ethic speaks volumes. Simply being someone who can be relied upon to get to work on time, not bring any dramas, and do the job without complaining, are all invaluable - even more so is recognising these qualities in yourself and marketing them to employers. It so turned out that I never took up tree work full time, but I am soon going to complete my aerial rescue course, at which point I may start looking for full time work as a trainee climber. Haven’t yet explored what I might be able to negotiate for that. So to answer your question: £100 is what I’d be after minimum, as someone who simply shows up willing to learn and be useful on site. Four companies were willing to pay this for a few trial shifts and one offered it for a full time position. With some tickets, experience, and PPE I’d expect £110 a day. One firm offered to start me on £80 a day which, compared to other companies local to me, fell far short of the mark. For someone who is perhaps not very reliable or brings baggage to work (drug user, questionable work ethic/professionalism, lack of enthusiasm etc) then perhaps £80 a day is reasonable, but if you’re serious about the job and got your head screwed on you should be aiming for more than this, even if you’re just dragging brash.

Apparently it’s James Smith instructing it. If anyone knows of them?

Life isn’t easy off the estate don’t you know… Yes I might have to bite the bullet. Then again I can’t help but think the tickets are only a means to an end, and the bulk of the learning tends to come after… hard to justify the extra expense and travelling time for what is essentially a tick in a box for employment prospects. Maybe I’m being too pessimistic! Would a company really not hire me because I did Aerial Rescue at one particular training provider instead of another?

Looking to get my Aerial Rescue. Paying out of pocket and Plumpton is both the cheapest in my area and closest to me. I did my chainsaw maintenance, cross cut and small fell at Scott Fraser Training. The training there was brilliant and I can’t fault it, but they’re over an hour away from me and cost about £150 more than Plumpton’s course for Aerial Rescue. The 1hr10 there and back every day was not very enjoyable. Any experiences with Plumpton - worth the money? thanks

When you say the wages are crap, how crap are we talking? I’ve seen utility arborist jobs advertised around me starting at 28,000 a year which would be a pay rise for me 😂 obviously they ask for experience but I’d be okay with a little less than that. How much lower do the wages go?

Thanks for the feedback. I totally understand and I’m not expecting to be seen as some kind of seasoned expert after just getting a few tickets. That said I’m 26 and currently earning my age in thousands a year at my current employment, and I don’t want to leave my current job and fork out 3 grand for tickets only to be paid a few bob an hour to make cups of tea. Just trying to get an idea of what that sort of job that training might get me - would I still need to go in as an apprentice for a year? Or would a company hire me as a climber on a lower “training” wage? I don’t really know what to expect once I leave the course with the tickets under my belt… I’ll have a look into Scott Fraser but unfortunately it’s the wrong side of Plumpton to me and would be a hell of a commute…

Hi everyone, A while ago I made a post enquiring about coming into this industry with no experience. Unfortunately I’ve not yet got anywhere, but I’m slowly putting things in motion regarding leaving current employment, and getting training, tickets, etc. I’ve been researching courses near me and have found one at Plumpton College, just down the road from me. They offer an intensive 8-week full time course that includes: Qualifications: NPTC Award in Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross-cutting NPTC/City & Guilds Award in Felling and Processing Trees up to 380mm NPTC/City & Guilds Award in Tree Climbing and Rescue NPTC Level 2 Award in Safe Use of Manually Fed Wood-chipper NPTC/City & Guilds Award in Safe use of Mobile Elevated Work Platform NPTC Aerial cutting of trees using free fall techniques ROLO Health & Safety Course This course is nearby, affordable, and I may even be able to get government funding to help me pay for it. My questions is, how employable does this course make me? And what pay/work could I roughly expect off the back of this? I’m not expecting to join a company as a team leader, but at the same time I’d like to get stuck in as a climber at some point and ideally not be seen as an apprentice if I’m going to fork out for all the courses beforehand. I’m also expecting to take a pay-cut leaving my current employment but I’d also like to minimise that as much as I can, hence why I want to get as many tickets under my belt as I can before finding new work. I’d appreciate any advice on the matter, thank you! Harry

😂😂 crying in the papers doesn’t pay that well these days

West Sussex, near Horsham

Hi everyone, I’m in Sussex, and almost 26 years old. I currently make about £25k a year but I don’t enjoy it that much. I’d like to get into arboriculture/tree surgery, however I have no prior experience. That said I’m physically fit and healthy, have a good work ethic, and am quick to learn. I'm an ex squaddie and not afraid of hard work. My new job is quite full on, but I’m not getting what I was hoping out of it and I’d rather be outdoors more learning a new skill. Lots of what I read online says that the best way into this job is an apprenticeship, however I don’t think I could feasibly take a pay-cut of that much at this age. I’m willing to pay for any and all courses, but finding the time to do them around current work is tricky. I’ve been researching them and, despite the distinct lack of colleges near me, I could probably get a place on some chainsaw and rescue courses around June - work-leave dependant. Is anyone here able to offer some advice for someone my age looking to swap professions and get into it? Thanks